There are a lot of people who see marriage as “just a piece of paper.” I happen to be one of them :) And it wouldn’t be totally implausible for this number to increase as a result of allowing gay marriage, though I wouldn’t personally expect it to.
If the law would be unable to stop or punish you (just as it today can’t stop two unmarried people from living together), then unlicensed drivers would gradually become accepted as a fact.
On the other hand, if in a country people could be punished for living together while not being married, and if most people would agree with such laws, then marriage would be treated more seriously than a driver’s license.
There are a lot of people who see marriage as “just a piece of paper.” I happen to be one of them :) And it wouldn’t be totally implausible for this number to increase as a result of allowing gay marriage, though I wouldn’t personally expect it to.
If a marriage is just a piece of paper, then so is a driver’s license, a dollar bill, an apartment lease, a sales receipt, and a passport.
By your analogy, driving a lot without a license will get you recognized by the state as a common-law driver.
If the law would be unable to stop or punish you (just as it today can’t stop two unmarried people from living together), then unlicensed drivers would gradually become accepted as a fact.
On the other hand, if in a country people could be punished for living together while not being married, and if most people would agree with such laws, then marriage would be treated more seriously than a driver’s license.